Handlamp switch



G. D. GALLAGHER. HANDLAMFSWIICH. APPLlcAloN FILED JAN.a.192o.v

Patented June 13, 1922.

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AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE i). GALLAGHEE, OE WASHTNGTON, DISTRICT OE COLUMBIA, AssrGNOE TO WINCHEsTEE EEEEATING ARMs COMPANY, OE NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A

CORYORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HANDLAMP SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13 1922 Application led January 8, 1920. Serial No. 350,145.

To all 'whom t may concer/n Be it known that I, GEORGE D. GALLAGHEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Islandlamp Switches '(Case B) g and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to portable` lamps of a character comprising a battery and a 'small incandescent electrict lamp with a switch suitably positioned to control the flow of current from said battery through said lamp.

In devices of this general character, it is desirable that the Voperator be able to flash the lamp, thatis to say, light it momentarily as in signaling, or for such short periods 'of time as is convenient for the operator to hold his thumb on the switch mechanism. It is also desirable that the contact device be so arranged as to give a permanent or continual lighting Iof the lamp withoutthe need for continuing thumb pressure on the contact device. There is also a need for ,rendering the Contact `device inactive to prevent inadvertent lighting of the lamp through accidental manipulation ofthe Contact device, as when the hand lamp is carried aboutpin 'a tool kit, or is being stored `or transported with its battery in place. V

It Ais an object 'ofthe present invention to satisfy any and fall of the foregoing requirements by la Contact means of simple and economical construction, easy to manufacture 'and assemble, and reliable in its action.

'ther objects and advantages are hereinafter pointed out and will be clear from the following detailed description, which is to be taken in conjunction with the laccompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a sectional elevation of a hand lamp embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 lis `an enlarged plan of the switch or Contact mechanism; i e

Fig. 3 is asection on the line y3---3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are "corresponding sections with the switch button rotated Vfrom the position illustrated inFg. 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6of Fig. 2;

Figs. 7 and 8 are details of the push button switch;

Figs. 9 and l() are details of a rotary element of the switch; and i Fig. 11 is a section through the leaf spring by which movement of the push button is controlled.` f

In the embodiment illustrated, a plurality of `dry cells 1 'are arranged `end to end with the upper or carbon electrode 2 of the topmost cell making contact with the inner terminal of the lamp 3, and the naked or zinc `bottom of the lowermost cell `making electrical connection through the coil `spring l with a metal cap 5 threaded to a collar 6. positioned on the lower end of the `casing 7. 'Ihis casing may beof fiber or other material commonly used in hand lamps, and may be provided at its front end with a threaded Icollar S carryin g a flanged ring 9 by which the lens l() and lamp reflector 11 are held in position. Preferably the edge of reflector 11 is spaced from collar 8 and ring 9 to malte the hand lamp non-short-cirouiting, but those and other details of the device may be ivaried in many ways.

Connect-ed with the router terminal of the lamp 3, as through reflector ll, is a conductor 12, which niay be in the form roff a flat strip running along the inner wall of casing 7 and secured near its lower lend by a rivet 13. The lower end of conductor 12 is preferably bent outward at right angles tofform a contact element 14; which protrudes through an elongated slot in casing 7, `as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive. Positioned over this slot is a sheet metal housing 15 with an esoutcheon plate 16 by which'the housing may ybe suitably riveted to casing 7. 'Ihe central portion `of this housing ais of rectangular outline, fas shown in Fig. 2, and is slotted along each side to receive a rotatable disc 17 wherein the push lbutton 18 of the contact device is mounted and by which it may be rotated. The push button is preferably provided Iwith 'four recesses 19 cut in the side walls thereof and enga 'ng with four projections 20 on nthe .inner e ge ofthe rotatable disc 17. The push button is thus free to move in and Aout but cannot rotate axially except when dise 117 also rotates.

rlhe push button carries at its inner edge a flange ot irregul ar shape7 as shown in S, with portions oit two oil2 its sectors 2l. cut away, and. with the two remaining sectors 22 left intact.

Movements oit the push. button 1S are controlled by a bent .leaf spring (Figll), the lower end oil 'which is fastened to the hmising by a rivet 2li, and the upper, broad, flat end of which lits against the under circular iace ol" push button 18 in which are a pair of intersecting grooves and 26 (ii'ig. 8) in which the outer end oi spring 23 is received and by which accidental rotation oi'f the push button is avoided. llhen the push button is rotated, as hereinafter explained, the spring snaps in and out oit these intersecting grooves 25 and 2G.

lith the several parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3, thumb pressure on push button .18 will bring the `flat segments 21 and 22 oit its flange into engagement with the upturned end 14 of the conductor from the lamp and. will thereby complete the circuit from the battery through the lamp. it being understood that spring 23, housing 15 and escutcheon 16 are electrically connected with the bottom of the dry cells as through a flat strip 27 (Fig. l) leading to the metal littings oit the casing 7. lt is in this way that the lamp is flashed, i. e.7 is lighted for such periods ot time as it is convenient `lor the operator to hold his thumb on the push but` ton. But if a permanent lighting ot the lamp is desired, the operator slides his thumb along the edge of disc 1T and thereby :rotates the disc and with it the push button to bring the disc itself into electrical connection with the bent and yielding end 1.4iot conductor 18 over which the disc rides with a wiping action and so completes the connection without the need to." pressure on the push bui.- ton. Details ot the rotary disc 1 7 are best shown in Figs 9 and 10, from which it will be seen. that the out away portions 28 and 2D oit the lower face of the disc are separated by tongues 30 and 31, either one oi? which when engaged. with contact 14C will completo the circuit from the battery through the lauip. lilith the rotary disc in the position shown in Fig 3, neither oit these tongues 30 or 81. is in contact with conductor 1.1i, and. inward movement of the push button is necessary to complete the circuit. In Fig. 4L the rotary disc has been turned 900 'from the position. occupied in Fig. 3, and thus has become et 4lective to cause permanent lighting o't the lamp. i

But iil` lighting of the lamp is 'to be avoided, as when the hand lamp is being` shipped through the mails, or is being carried. as baggage or in the tool ltit of an automobile. the rotary disc 17, and with it the push but-v ton 18, can be rotated. still `lurther until tl 2v assume the position shown in Fig. 'y

the cut away portion 0l rotary dise 17 over contact 111, and with the cut away portion of the push button flange over conductor ll/l. Thumb pressure on the push button in this axial position will not bring any part oit lthe button into contact with conductor 141- to light the lamp. Rotation o'l the push button and its disc 17, though entirely 'feasible from an operating standpoint, is not likely to occur accidentally because of the seating of spring 23 in one or the other oit the recesses 25 and 2G formed in the inner cir-y cular iliace oi the push button.

I am aware that details of the switch mechanism may be varied within the scope of the appended. claims, and it will. be ap. parent that the shape, size and materials of various parts of the hand lamp structure with which this contact device is used. may be altered in many ways without departing from the spirit oit my invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. Contact means for a battery hand lamp, comprising a push button and an op-J posed contact for flashing the lamp7 and means engaged by said. push button and rotatable therewithand into continuing enw gagement with said opposed contact when permanent lighting of the lamp is desired.

2. Contact means 'for a battery hand lamp, comprising a push button for flashing the lamp7 and additional contact means engaged by said push button and rotatable on the axis of said push button into inactive position. when lighting of the lamp is to be avoided.

8. Contact means for a battery hand lamp, comprising a contact disc, a con ductor opposite said dise. said disc having an unsymmetrical working ilace and being adapted by rotation to assume two different positions, in one ol which it closes the circuit tlnfough said opposed conductor, and .in another oil`1 which it leaves the circuit open, and a push luitton having an unsymmetrical working iace and being rotatalfle with said disc into inactive position when lighting ot the lamp is to be avoided7 substantially as described.

4L. Contact means `for a battery hand lamp, a flanged push button and a dise through which said push button passes and by which it may be rotated, said disc having a portion eil'ective to light the lamp when continuous lighting is desired.

5. Contact means for a' battery hand lamp7 a housing a disc rotatably carried thereby, a push button passing through said disc and shaped for temporary engagement with an opposed conductor, said disc being shaped for permanent engagement with. said conductor when continuous lighting of the lamp is desired, and a spring for controlling the movement of said push button.

6. Contact means for a battery hand lamp, a. housing having openings in its sides when the push but-ton is in one position and said dise having u tongue for Closing the eirc-uit to light the lamp when said push hut-` 10 t0n is in another position. In testimony whereof I ahx my signature.

GEORGE D. GALLAGHER.

Certificate of Correction.

1t s hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,419,729, granted J une 13, 1922,

upon the application oi' George D. Geihtgher, of Vashington, District of Columbia,

for :in improvement in Hendlemp Smfitches,`7 :Ln error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 115, 121, and 130, claims 4L, 5, and 6, after the Word la-mp insert the word Coney/freeing; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this, correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Oiee.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of July, A. D., 1922.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting (jommz'ssoner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

1t is hereby certied that in Letters Patent No. 1,419,7 29, granted June 13, 1922, upon the application of George D. (fallagher, of lfiflashngton, District of Columbia,

for an improvement iu Handlanip Switches, an error appears in the printed specification requiring Correction as follows: Page 2, lines 115, 121, and 130, claims 4l, 5, and 6, after the word lamp insert the word com21/[whiny and that the Said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the sanne may Conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of July, A. D., .1922.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Act/ng Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

